Anchor for vest mounted assault weapon

ABSTRACT

Anchor for vest mounted assault weapon is disclosed which may be used for a body armor vest to provide a secure method of removably affixing the anchor. A conventional assault rifle may be removably affixed to the anchor. Once so affixed to the vest, the assault rifle is held firmly with the rear of the stock in an appropriate firing position. The anchor may also be used as a hands-free carrying device for the assault rifle.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relies for priority upon the Provisional PatentApplication filed by Jeffrey Paul Whittle entitled True anchor pointstock system vest mounted assault weapon mount true point, Ser. No.61/198,059, filed Nov. 3, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to combat gear and morespecifically to a device which provides a stable, releasable, mount on aprotective vest for an assault rifle.

2. Background Information

In the United States and throughout the world, thousands of soldiers,police officers, and others in similar positions wear some type of bodywhen proceeding into potentially dangerous situations. Most often, thisbody armor is in the form of an armored vest. Although there are varioustypes of body armor, most often the armor is in the form of a vest whichincludes armored portions which cover the chest and back and variousstraps to secure the armor to the user including shoulder straps.

Nearly all rifles, including automatic assault rifles, are designed tobe carried and used by a person not wearing body armor. Although thereare a number of ways to shoot a rifle, most commonly, the rifle includesa stock and a shooter presses one cheek against the stock such that theshooting eye is generally aligned with the front and rear sights of therifle. The rear of the stock is most often pressed against the hollow ofone shoulder to provide a solid shooting position and to absorb therecoil in a relatively harmless manner when a rifle is shot. Body armoris currently relatively thick (about one inch). Most body armor, whencorrectly worn, intrudes upon the hollow of the shoulder. A shooterwearing body armor cannot press the rear of the stock into the hollow ofthe shoulder, because the body armor is in the way. Because the rifle iseffectively an inch or so further from the body of a shooter wearingbody armor, it is also very difficult to press the cheek against thestock and align the eye with the sights as is conventionally done whenshooting without body armor. In most instances, a shooting attempting toshoot in body armor is able to secure the assault rifle against the bodyonly by pressing the very bottom tip of the rear of the stock againstthe top portion of the body armor. This does not provide a solidshooting base.

The anchor for vest mounted assault weapon of the instant inventionsolves a number of problems which arise when a shooter attempts to shoota rifle or automatic assault rifle while wearing body armor. The instantinvention provides a device for removably affixing a rifle or assaultrifle (hereafter, assault rifle is deemed to include any weapon which isoften fired with the stock against one shoulder) to body armor such thatthe assault rifle is held securely to the body armor in a good shootingposition. This solves several problems relating to firing an assaultrifle while wearing body armor. Most importantly, the assault rifle isautomatically positioned in a good shooting position such that a shootermay properly align the sights with the shooting eye and recoil isappropriately absorbed because the stock is held securely against theshoulder.

The ideal anchor for vest mounted assault weapon of the instantinvention solves the above problems by removably securing the stock ofthe rifle to the shooter in an appropriate shooting position. The idealinvention should also insure that the end of the stock is securedagainst the body to absorb recoil. The ideal invention should alsoprovide a method for quickly and simply releasing the assault rifle fromthe securing device. The ideal invention should also provide aconvenient method of carrying an assault rifle when not in use. Itshould also be simple, reliable, inexpensive, and easy to operate andmaintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The anchor for vest mounted assault weapon of the instant invention ismade to be used with conventional body armor which ordinarily includesarmor over the front and rear of the body of a user which is secured inplace using a number of straps including shoulder straps which connectthe front and rear armor over the shoulders of a user. As will be seen,the instant invention could also be used with a non-armored hunting vestor similar garment.

The instant invention includes a clip which may be removably affixed tothe appropriate shoulder strap of body armor. With left-handed people,for instance, this is typically the shoulder strap over the leftshoulder. The clip includes the ball portion of a ball and socket jointwhich protrudes slightly outward from the shoulder. A connector is alsoprovided. The connector includes the socket portion of the ball andsocket joint at the rear of the connector. (Rearward is considered to betoward a shooter.) The forward end of the connector includes a receiverwhich may be removably affixed to the rear of the stock of an assaultrifle. The socket of the connector may be removably affixed to the ballof the clip such that the connector my rotate freely about the ball.

The receiver portion of the connector is configured such that it may beremovably affixed to the rearward end of the stock of an assault rifle.This connection may be accomplished either by modifying an existing,conventional stock or by manufacture of a stock specific to the instantinvention.

The clip is positioned on the shoulder strap such that the assault rifleis in the appropriate shooting position when the stock of the rifle isaffixed to the connector. Not only is the assault rifle positionedappropriately for aligning the shooting eye with the sights of therifle, but the rifle is secured to the body appropriately to absorbrecoil. When not in use, the assault rifle can be carried, leaving bothhands free, by letting the rifle dangle from the connector. The assaultrifle may be quickly and easily released from the connector and maystill be used in a conventional manner.

One of the major objects of the present invention is to provide a secureshooting position by removably securing the stock of the rifle to theshooter in an appropriate shooting position.

Another objective of the present invention is to insure that the end ofthe stock is secured against the body to absorb recoil.

Another objective of the present invention to provide a method forquickly and simply releasing the assault rifle from the securing device.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a convenientmethod of carrying an assault rifle when not in use

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an anchor forvest mounted assault weapon which is simple, reliable, inexpensive, andeasy to use and maintain.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent whentaken in consideration with the following detailed description and thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an orthographic view of the clip portion of the instantinvention secured to an armored vest;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the clip portion of the instant invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of connector portion of the instant invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the connector portion of the instantinvention taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the stock portion of the instant invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the stock portion of the instant inventiontaken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the stock portion of the instant inventiontaken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a buffer tube which is typical of many assaultrifles and generally connects the rest of the assault rifle to the stockof the rifle; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the buffer tube taken along line 9-9 ofFIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 there is shown an anchor for vestmounted assault weapon of the instant invention. FIG. 1 also showsportions of typical body armor employing a vest configuration and is notconsidered part of the invention. FIGS. 8 and 9 show a buffer tube whichis typical of many conventional assault rifles and is also notconsidered a part of the invention. An example of an assault riflehaving such a buffer tube is the Bushmaster XM15 M4A3 Type Carbine madeby Bushmaster Firearms, Inc. of Windham, Me. The buffer tube is notconsidered to be either a part of or necessary to the instant inventionand is included only to illustrate one method of securing the rest of anassault rifle to the stock. The instant invention may be adapted to beused with nearly any rifle which has a stock.

Now referring to FIG. 1, an orthographic view of the clip portion of theinstant invention secured to an armored vest is shown. A portion of aconventional vest 2 is shown. Armor 4 of the vest 2 is shown. This isintended to depict a portion of a typical body armor vest and is notconsidered part of the invention. The armor 4 in this Figure is thatportion of the armor which would cover the upper, left chest of awearer, but the instant invention would work equally well with the rightportion of said armor 4 or with any vest or clothing. A shoulder strap 6protrudes upward from the top of said armor 4. The left shoulder 8 of aperson wearing said vest 2 (a shooter) is also shown to indicate theposition of said vest 2 relative to the body of a wearer.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a clip 10 is removably affixed to theshoulder strap 6 near the top of said armor 4. (Toward the shooter isconsidered rearward and away from the shooter is considered forward.)The clip 10 has the general shape of a “C” such that it may be pushedonto said shoulder strap 6. Said clip 10 may be secured to said shoulderstrap 6 by tightening a clip bolt 12 which passes through the open endsof said clip 10 using a wing nut 14. A ball 16 is affixed to the forwardsurface of said clip 10 and protrudes forward from said clip 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a side view of said clip 10 of the instantinvention is shown. This view better shows the manner of attachment ofsaid clip 10 to said shoulder strap 6 and the configuration of the ball16. This view shows that the clip bolt 12 passes through an aligned pairof clip holes 18 through the sides of said clip 10 at the open end ofsaid clip 10. The sides of said clip 10 may be pressed together bytightening the wing nut 14 to secure said clip 10 the said shoulderstrap 6. As may be seen, the position of said clip 10 may be adjusted tothe appropriate position on said shoulder strap 6. Said ball 16 isoffset from the forward surface of said clip 10 by a ball stem 20 whichis affixed to the forward surface of said clip 10 and the rearward edgeof said ball 16. It may be readily understood that the instant inventionis shown in this embodiment with said clip 10 and consequently the ballstem 20 being affixed to an existing, conventional version of said vest2. However, in a second embodiment, said vest 2 could just as easily bemanufactured such that said ball stem 20 and said ball 16 are made as apart of said vest 2. That is, the instant invention is shown as being anattachment to said vest 2, but it could easily be adapted such that saidball stem 20 and said ball 16 are made a part of said vest 2 which wouldeliminate the necessity for said clip 10, said clip bolt 12, the clipholes 18, and said wing nut 14.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of connector portion of the instantinvention is shown. A connector 26 is provided which has a socket 28 atits rearward end and a receiver 30 at its forward end. The connector 26has the general shape of a cylinder split into two halves. The twohalves are held together by a connector bolt 32. The connector bolt 32passes through a hole in one of the halves of said connector 26 andscrews into a connector nut 34 in the other half of said connector bolt32. The connector nut 34 is embedded into said connector 26 such that itdoes not turn. A connector spring 36 on said connector bolt 32 tends topress the two halves of said connector 26 apart. The two halves of saidconnector 26 may be forced together by tightening said connector bolt32. The socket 28 is a spherical hollow on the interior of saidconnector 26 slightly larger than said ball 16. Said connector 26 may beremovably secured to said clip 10 by loosening said connector bolt 32and inserting said ball 16 into said socket 28 and tightening saidconnector bolt 32. Said connector bolt 32 is tightened enough to securedsaid ball 16 within said socket 28, but not so tight that said ball 16cannot rotate within said socket 28.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the receiver 30 has a generally cylindricalshape, but has a connector keyway 40 protruding outward from one side.The connector keyway 40 has a generally rectangular cross section andruns the length of said receiver 30. The forward end of said connectorkeyway 40 slants inward. There is a connector hole 42 in said connectorkeyway 40 near the forward end of said connector keyway 40. Theconnector hole 42 is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofsaid receiver 30.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a sectional view of said connector 26 takenalong line 4-4 of FIG. 3 is shown. This view shows the cylindrical shapeof said receiver 30 and the configuration of said connector keyway 40.This view also better shows the position and configuration of saidconnector hole 42.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a side view of a typical assault rifle stock isshown. A stock 50 is affixed to any conventional assault rifle and isnot considered a part of the instant invention except for the method ofattachment to said connector 26 as described below. The rest of theassault rifle is not considered a part of or relevant to the instantinvention. A new stock 50 could be manufactured to accommodate theinstant invention or an existing stock could be modified to use theinstant invention. The following description of removably affixing saidconnector 26 to an assault rifle is illustrative of one method ofaffixing said connector 26, but a variety of other methods could beused.

Still referring to FIG. 5, the stock 50 includes a hollow, cylindricalstock tube 52 which runs the length of said stock 50. The interiordiameter of the stock tube 52 is slightly larger than the exteriordiameter of said receiver 30. Said stock tube 52 includes a stock keyway54 which is complementary to said connector keyway 40. That is, saidreceiver 30 and said connector keyway 40 may be slid into said stocktube 52 and said stock keyway 54. A stock pin 56 protrudes into theinterior of said stock keyway 54. The stock pin 56 has a stock pin head58 at its outer end and a stock pin tip 60 at its interior end. Thestock pin tip 60 protrudes into the interior of said stock keyway 54.The diameter of said stock pin tip 60 is slightly smaller than thediameter of said connector hole 42. The diameter of the body of saidstock pin 56 is slightly smaller than the diameter of said stock pin tip60.

Still referring to FIG. 5, The inner surface of the stock pin head 58abuts a stock pin plate 64. A stock pin spring 66 on the body of saidstock pin 56 is interposed between the stock pin plate 64 and the innersurface of said stock pin tip 60. Thus, the stock pin spring 66 tends toforce said stock pin tip 60 inward toward said stock tube 52. Saidreceiver 30 and said connector keyway 40 may be pressed into said stocktube 52 and said stock keyway 54. The slant on said connector keyway 40makes this insertion easier. Said stock pin tip 60 engages saidconnector hole 42 and holds said connector 26 in place within said stock50. Stock pin head 58 may be pulled outward against the force of saidstock pin spring 66 which disengages said stock pin tip 60 from saidconnector hole 42 and allows said connector 26 to be removed from saidstock 56.

Still referring to FIG. 5, there is a buffer tube pin 70, buffer tubepin head 72, buffer pin tip 74, and buffer tube pin spring 76 forward ofsaid stock pin 56 which are all configured and operate in the samemanner as the complimentary elements which make up the said stock pin 56and its similar associated elements. The only difference between thebuffer tube pin 70 and said stock pin 56, is that rather than abutting aplate like said stock pin plate 64, said buffer tube pin 70 abuts abuffer tube pin trigger 80. (While said stock pin 56 and its associatedelements are considered a part of the instant invention, said buffertube pin 70 and its associated elements are conventional and a wellknown part of many assault rifles.) The buffer tube pin trigger 80 isheld in place by the buffer tube pin head 72. The rearward portion ofsaid buffer tube pin trigger 80 is angled downward and rearward from theforward portion. Pulling rearward and upward on the rearward portion ofsaid buffer tube pin trigger 80 causes the buffer tube pin head 72 to bewithdrawn from said stock keyway 54.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a sectional view of said stock 50 of theinstant invention taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 is shown. This viewperhaps better shows the interaction and configuration of said buffertube pin 70, said buffer tube head 72, said buffer tube pin tip 74, saidbuffer tube pin spring 76, and said buffer tube pin trigger 80. Saidbuffer tube pin trigger 80 encloses the lower, forward end of said stock50 and is held in place by said buffer tube pin head 72. When saidbuffer tube pin trigger 80 is pulled, the forward end of said buffertube pin trigger 80 pulls said buffer tube pin head 72 downward whichpulls said buffer tube pin tip 74 downward and out of said stock keyway54.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a sectional view of said stock 50 of theinstant invention taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 is shown. This viewperhaps better shows the relationship and configuration of said stockpin 56, said stock pin head 58, said stock pin tip 60, said stock pinplate 64, and said stock pin spring 66. There is a stock pin opening 84shown between said stock pin plate 64 and the bottom, outer surface ofsaid stock keyway 54. The stock pin opening 84 is not critical to thefunction of the instant invention, but makes it easier to retrofit theinstant invention to an existing assault rifle stock. Said stock pinopening 84 makes it easier, for example, to place said stock pin spring66 on said stock pin 56. Said stock pin plate 64 does not exist on aconventional stock and must be fastened in place when a conventionalassault rifle is retrofitted to accommodate the instant invention. Inaddition, the material of said stock 50 around said stock pin head 58must be removed in most cases when a conventional assault rifle isretrofitted as well. Of course, when said stock 50 is purpose built forthe instant invention, these elements may be built into said stock 50.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a side view of a buffer tube which is typicalof many assault rifles and generally connects the rest of the assaultrifle to the stock of the rifle is shown. Again, this element, a buffertube 90 is not considered a part of the invention and is shown toillustrate the functionality of the instant invention. The rest of theassault rifle is not shown. The buffer tube 90 is often threaded at theforward end to provide fastening means for fastening said buffer tube 90to other elements of the assault rifle. Said buffer tube 90 alsoincludes a buffer tube keyway 94 which is very similar to said connectorkeyway 40. The buffer tube keyway 94 also includes a buffer tube keywayhole 94 which serves a function similar to that of said connector hole42. The rearward end of said buffer tube 90 may be inserted into theforward end of said stock tube 52 and is held in place within said stocktube 52 when said buffer tube pin tip 74 engages the buffer tube keywayhole 94. Said buffer tube 90 may be removed by pulling back on therearward portion of said buffer tube pin trigger 80 which acts todisengage said buffer tube pin tip 74 from said buffer tube keyway hole94.

Now referring to FIG. 9, a sectional view of said buffer tube 90 takenalong line 9-9 of FIG. 8 is shown. This view, perhaps, better shows theinteraction and configuration of said buffer tube 90, said buffer tubekeyway 92, and said buffer tube keyway hole 94.

In operation the anchor for vest mounted assault weapon described aboveworks as follows. Said clip 10 is removably affixed to said shoulderstrap 6 of said vest 2 as described in detail above. Said connector bolt32 is loosened if necessary such that said ball 16 may be inserted intosaid socket 28 at the rearward end of said connector 26. Said connectorbolt 32 is then tightened sufficiently to secure said ball 16 withinsaid socket 28 without the connection being so tight that said ball 16will not rotate smoothly within said socket 28. The forward end of saidreceiver 30 is inserted into the rearward end of said stock tube 52. Theassault rifle and said stock 50 is then pressed rearward until saidstock pin tip 60 engages said connector hole 42. Said stock pin spring66 forces said stock pin 56 into connector hole 42 and securely, butremovably, affixes the assault rifle to said connector 26. The assaultrifle may then be fired in s proficient manner because the assault rifleis firmly secured to the body of the shooter with the shooter's shootingeye properly aligned with the sights of the assault rifle. The shootermay let the assault rifle dangle from the instant invention to provide aconvenient method of carrying the assault rifle. The assault rifle mayeasily and quickly be removed from said connector 26 by pulling down onsaid tock pin head 58 which disengages said stock pin tip 60 from saidconnector hole 42. The assault rifle may then simply be pulled away fromthe instant invention. As may be seen, the functionality of the assaultrifle is not changed in any manner when used apart from the instantinvention.

All elements of the variable anchor for vest mounted assault weapon aremade of steel except for those described below, but other materialhaving similar strength, weight, and weather resistance could be used.Said stock 50 is molded from tough, high impact plastic which is weatherresistant.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications may be made in these embodiments without departingfrom the spirit of the present invention. That is, the device could beused for a wide variety of purposes either in combination or separately.

1. An anchor for vest mounted assault weapon for use with a body armorvest, the body armor vest having a shoulder strap which passes over auser's shoulder from back to front comprising: (1) a clip which may beremovably affixed to the shoulder strap of the vest such that the clipis positioned near the hollow at the front of a user's shoulder; (2) aball which is affixed to said clip and which protrudes forward from saidclip away from a user; and (3) a receiver which is removably affixed atthe rearward end of the receiver to the ball such that said receiver mayrotate about said ball; the forward end of said receiver being capableof being removably affixed to the stock of a rifle.
 2. An anchor forvest mounted assault weapon for use with a body armor vest, the bodyarmor vest having a shoulder strap which passes over a user's shoulderfrom back to front comprising: (1) a ball which is affixed to theshoulder strap of the vest at a point near the hollow at the front of auser's shoulder and which protrudes forward from the shoulder strap awayfrom a user; and (2) a receiver which is removably affixed at therearward end of the receiver to the ball such that said receiver mayrotate about said ball; the forward end of said receiver being capableof being removably affixed to the stock of a rifle.